Chapter 1281 - 316: The Pen Like a Blade (Part 2)

Chapter 1281: Chapter 316: The Pen Like a Blade (Part 2)

At the Fan Family, Liu Ruqing has been living in widowhood for many years. During the day, she has to handle the Fan family members with decorum, and at night, before falling asleep, she spends some time lamenting her own desolate loneliness;

Coming to the Earl’s Mansion, she adds to her lament, feelings of longing for her hometown;

Today, because she witnessed a scene she shouldn’t have seen, another lament was added.

Fan Zhengwen sent her all the way to Snow Sea Pass with clear intentions. Although she is Fan Zhengwen’s sister-in-law, logically Fan Zhengwen, as the elder brother, should protect his brother’s widow;

Yet, the person she once thought was the famous doctor uncle invited by the Fan family’s matriarch, turns out to be of noble status.

Liu Ruqing’s nature cannot be called cowardly, yet she still cannot escape the societal constraints of women being dependent on men in this era;

She has already positioned herself as a concubine, and after knowing that her brother Liu Zhong will also come to Snow Sea Pass, she has already regarded the Earl’s Mansion as her new home.

Originally a solitary person, being entrusted to the Fan Mansion and then to the Earl’s Mansion, what difference does it make?

Having mentally prepared herself, Liu Ruqing is also waiting for the day when "Uncle" will enter her bedroom and possess her body.

This is what she is supposed to do, she hasn’t thought about resisting;

If she really wanted to resist, she had countless opportunities to end her life on the journey from the Fan Family to Snow Sea Pass.

Meanwhile,

Truth be told, just as the Princess once compared Qu Peiluo and Lord Zheng and concluded that Lord Zheng was superior in every aspect compared to Qu Peiluo;

Liu Ruqing cannot help but compare her deceased husband with Lord Zheng, but not even the eldest son of the Qu Clan can compare, how could a sickly young man from the Fan Mansion compare to the Lord Pingye of Yan?

Indeed, comparing her deceased husband to Lord Pingye almost seems like deliberately elevating her husband and disrespecting Lord Pingye.

Liu Ruqing knows these thoughts in her mind are wrong, yet she cannot control her mind from wandering there.

Living in the Earl’s Mansion, eating there, acting there, if she doesn’t think about Lord Pingye, who else can she think about?

However,

She has prepared herself,

It could be tonight, tomorrow night, or the night after;

But regrettably, Lord Zheng has never stayed overnight here with her, though during the day he sometimes comes by to listen to her sing and hear her call him "Uncle."

Women’s thoughts are intricate, and Liu Ruqing has always been intelligent and delicate. Even though she has worn white flowers early, over the years at the Fan Mansion, she often chatted with those sisters-in-law.

She knows some of the men’s thoughts, some of their preferences.

For example,

She knows,

Lord Zheng seems to like her calling him "Uncle."

Though she is his concubine, his nominal chamber partner, yet he prefers her calling him by an elder’s title.

Sister Feng also became aware of this and once summoned her specifically to call "Uncle" for her to listen.

Liu Ruqing was terrified then,

Because she knows Siniang’s position in the Earl’s Mansion,

Even the Princess of Chu must defer to her, let alone Liu Ruqing.

Liu Ruqing thought Siniang was angry with her for using such seductive means to draw the attention of Lord Pingye,

She herself felt guilty because she did not change this form of address to win favor with Lord Pingye.

Yet,

Siniang merely made her call "Uncle" a few times face-to-face,

And then instructed her to call a few times "Papa,"

Before waving her away.

After this incident, as the days spent at the Earl’s Mansion grew longer, Liu Ruqing gradually relaxed.

Compared to the Fan Mansion, Lord Pingye is indeed very aloof, but actually, she likes this aloofness. When there is nothing going on, she can freely nurture flowers and read books in her small courtyard, without having to put on a smile for people deliberately; here, she feels very free.

The only discomfort is wondering when Lord Pingye will take her?

Though she knows thinking such things make her feel ashamed as a woman, she cannot help but think about it because she is already "a fallen woman."

Most importantly, after moving past the initial confusion and panic, she instinctively wants to seek security for her current life.

Plus, her brother will soon arrive here.

Although she is called "Aunt" by the servants, as an "Aunt," she hasn’t truly grasped anything.

Just like a document ready to be signed, the words have long dried, yet it has never been stamped with approval.

This heart of hers,

Just keeps floating in the sky, unable to settle down.

She did think about deliberately seducing Lord Pingye, but her charm is natural, not deliberate. Calling "Uncle" is already the furthest extent she can reach.

Moreover,

Every time she sees Lord Pingye,

When he sits before her,

She feels overwhelmed by pressure.

She is afraid of him, terribly afraid, afraid to the point she cannot restrain herself.

Today,

Liu Ruqing looks at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes slightly moist, she doesn’t want to think that her husband might have homosexual tendencies, but what about the scene she witnessed during the day?

And at this moment,

Lord Zheng pushed open the door and walked in.

Liu Ruqing was so frightened she stood up, placing her hands on her chest, and upon seeing Lord Zheng, she timidly called;

"Uncle~~"

This was,

The first time Lord Pingye had ever entered her bedroom at night, Liu Ruqing’s face unavoidably flushed.

She appeared like a ripe peach, ready to yield its juices with a gentle touch.